The role of calcium supplementation in healthy musculoskeletal ageing : An expert consensus meeting of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) and the International Foundation for Osteoporosis (IOF)

Abstract

The place of calcium supplementation, with or without concomitant vitamin D supplementation, has been much debated in terms of both efficacy and safety. There have been numerous trials and meta-analyses of supplementation for fracture reduction, and associations with risk of myocardial infarction have been suggested in recent years. In this report, the product of an expert consensus meeting of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) and the International Foundation for Osteoporosis (IOF), we review the evidence for the value of calcium supplementation, with or without vitamin D supplementation, for healthy musculoskeletal ageing. We conclude that (1) calcium and vitamin D supplementation leads to a modest reduction in fracture risk, although population-level intervention has not been shown to be an effective public health strategy; (2) supplementation with calcium alone for fracture reduction is not supported by the literature; (3) side effects of calcium supplementation include renal stones and gastrointestinal symptoms; (4) vitamin D supplementation, rather than calcium supplementation, may reduce falls risk; and (5) assertions of increased cardiovascular risk consequent to calcium supplementation are not convincingly supported by current evidence. In conclusion, we recommend, on the basis of the current evidence, that calcium supplementation, with concomitant vitamin D supplementation, is supported for patients at high risk of calcium and vitamin D insufficiency, and in those who are receiving treatment for osteoporosis.

Keywords: Calcium supplementation; Fracture reduction; Myocardial infarction; Vitamin D supplementation.

Conflict of interest statement

DisclosuresN. Harvey has received consultancy, lecture fees and honoraria from Alliance for Better Bone Health, AMGEN, MSD, Eli Lilly, Servier, Shire, Consilient Healthcare and Internis Pharma; C. Cooper has received consultancy, lecture fees and honoraria from AMGEN, GSK, Alliance for Better Bone Health, MSD, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Servier, Medtronic and Roche. V. Coxam has received Institutional funding and honoraria for an oral intervention at a scientific meeting Le Centre National Interprofessionnel de l'Economie Laitière (CNIEL); J.-M. Kaufman has received speaker or consultant fees from Amgen, Eli Lilly, Servier; E. Czerwinski has received research support and lecture fees from Amgen; O. Bruyere has received grant support from IBSA, MSD, Nutraveris, Novartis, Pfizer, Rottapharm, Servier, and Theramex; consulting or lecture fees from Bayer, Genevrier, IBSA, Rottapharm, Servier, SMB and TRB Chemedica. B. Dawson-Hughes has received research funding and consultancy from Pfizer Inc. E. Biver, J. Bauer, J. Branco, M.L. Brandi, A. Cruz-Jentoft, H. Dimai, P. Fardellone, F. Landi, J.Y. Reginster, J.A. Kanis, R. Rizzoli that they have no conflict of interest. ESCEO and IOF disclosures: none in relation to this paper.